Police look for links between McHenry bank robberies

McHenry police say the similarities between a Friday afternoon bank robbery and one in November have them questioning whether the same person is responsible for both.

In each case, a masked man demanded money in a note passed to a bank teller, said Deputy Police Chief Daniel Kreassig. The suspects in both cases are also described as white men with average builds, standing between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10.

“The method of the robbery was very similar,” Kreassig said, adding that a jacket was the only difference between the two suspects. “Makes me believe it could possibly be related.”

For now, though, police are investigating the cases separately.

The suspect walked into First National Bank, 612 S. Route 31, at 2:41 p.m. Friday and passed a note demanding money, police said. The teller couldn't read the writing, so the suspect took the note away and verbally demanded cash, police said. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.

“He was in the bank about 30 seconds,” Kreassig said.

Authorities are trying to determine whether the suspect got away in a waiting vehicle or if he left on foot. They're also hoping video surveillance from nearby businesses will help shed some light on the case.

In the first robbery, which occurred at a TCF Bank inside the Jewel at 4222 W. Elm Street, a masked man passed a note to a teller, demanded money and escaped in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

Police have not made arrests in either case.

The FBI's Rockford office is assisting with both investigations. Anyone with information about either robbery can leave a message on the McHenry police anonymous tip line, (815) 363-2124.